Danding's 2010 bets: Chiz, Loren

The tandem of Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Loren Legarda is fast shaping up to be the ticket of the largely pro-administration Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in the May 2010 presidential elections.

NPC party leaders and members made clear during their Christmas party on Monday night at the exclusive Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City that the two senators are their choices for their presidential slate.

“I think this is the team to beat,” Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, a former Tarlac congressman and a member of NPC, said.

But Lapus said it was not yet clear whether it would be an Escudero-Legarda or a Legarda-Escudero ticket.

“The surveys will greatly influence the decision on who will be the presidential candidate,” he said.

The two senators, who belong to the administration-led majority coalition in the Senate, are both casting a moist eye on the presidency.

“2010 will be an NPC year,” Escudero declared before his cheering party mates.

NPC leaders from many parts of the country attended their Christmas party. The party founder and principal financier, billionaire businessman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., personally welcomed them.

Cojuangco formed the party in 1992 when he unsuccessfully aspired for the presidency. He lost to Fidel Valdez Ramos. His running mate, Joseph Estrada, won the vice presidency and then the presidency six years later.

Cojuangco revealed that their presidential choices have narrowed down to Escudero and Legarda.

He said their party would try to have a full 12-member senatorial ticket in 2010.

Conspicuously absent in the annual NPC affair was Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Cojuangco’s nephew and another NPC presidential wannabe.

Party sources told The STAR that Teodoro does not like the fact his uncle appears to be leaning more toward Escudero and Legarda when it comes to 2010 politics.

Like Lapus, Teodoro is a former Tarlac representative but unlike many newcomers to the party, he is a genuine NPC member.

Teodoro headed the NPC bloc in the House of Representatives.

Asked whether Teodoro was invited, Lapus said, “I don’t know.”

During the party, one leader referred to Escudero as the local version of Barack Obama, the President-elect of the United States. The former Sorsogon congressman appeared titillated by the comparison.

Like Obama, Escudero is a young and bright lawyer. But they are also heavy smokers.

In December last year, over cups of coffee, Escudero promised friends that he would kick the habit at the start of 2008. But he has obviously failed.

In a recent television interview, Obama made a similar promise.

Escudero told his admirers that he had just come from a dinner with his wife.

“We are celebrating our ninth wedding anniversary today. I cut short our dinner to be with you because I have been married with NPC longer – for 10 years,” he said.

Legarda is a relatively newcomer to the party. She came from Lakas and the pro-administration Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), which was founded by Sen. Edgardo Angara and who continues to lead it.

The Cojuangco party invited guests from other political groups, including some from the ruling party Lakas and its administration rival, Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi).

The guests included Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Lakas executive vice president; Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte, Kampi president; Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia, also of Kampi; and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II, also a ranking member of Lakas.

Villafuerte said he and his group came to the NPC party upon the invitation of Cojuangco.

He jokingly told the crowd that he did not come to solicit signatures on Kampi’s resolution that seeks to convene Congress into a constituent assembly and to bypass the Senate on Charter change (Cha-cha).

“NPC is part of our group in the House – the reform bloc. We will support whomever Ambassador Cojuangco supports in 2010,” Villafuerte declared.

Among NPC leaders who attended the Christmas dinner-party were former Senate president Ernesto Maceda, former senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Representatives Rodolfo Plaza of Agusan del Sur and Jack Duavit of Rizal, and former Manila congressman Harry Angping, Benasing Macarambon of Lanao del Sur and Eduardo Veloso of Leyte.

Local officials who came to the party included Governors Emilio Macias of Negros Oriental and Sally Perez of Antique, a former Angara-LDP loyalist.

Another special party guest was Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, whose friendship with Cojuangco dates back to the Marcos years.

Enrile was then defense minister, while the NPC founder was among the closest friends of the late strongman.